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Perfection.

Perfection. It's been on my mind a lot the past couple of months. I was talking to a friend just yesterday about the struggle of comparison and the struggle to be perfect and how exhausting it can be. She said comparison is such a shame because you can never win. Everyone loses, and it's completely pointless. That really stuck out to me. Not to be confused with inspiration, because I think you can be inspired to become a better you by people you look up to, but when we start to compare ourselves to others, we really will never win. If we do end up reaching that goal to be like that person, we move on to the next person we want to be like that we find is more intelligent, successful, has a better body, has a captivating personality, etc. We always lose. We see someone who we look up to and think, "Wow, if I could just have it all together like they do." or, "If only I had their life. It seems perfect." without realizing they are probably thinking the exact same thing about someone else. I think we also need to be careful about comparing our real life to someone's online life. As a blogger, I know first hand what it's like to filter your life, showing only small pieces. I don't think that it's bad or deceptive to highlight the beauty in your life. I'm not one to post or share anytime Josh and I have a fight, or I get down because of an insecurity I'm battling with, or feel overwhelmed by the amount of work I have to do. Not because I want the world to think I never have any issues in my life, but because I don't want to focus on those things and want my blog to be a positive place. But I think it's easy to see people that we are inspired by on Instagram, blogs, twitter, etc. and compare our real life to their online life, which isn't a whole, complete life. Remember that the person you look up to most still has bad days, still fights with their spouse, still battle insecurities every day. I think as girls we need to kick that word perfection to the curb and start focusing on being more confident in our own skin, our own accomplishments. Taking pride in simply being you.  

shorts, thrifted // top, PacSun // boots, Target // Bandeau, UO

Comments

  1. this post is wonderful. thanks for writing it! it is refreshing to hear people speak so honestly. i am with you on kicking that word to the curb. I'll make the t-shirts for the campaign ;)

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  2. Love this post! You are so right about comparison and being perfect. Also great photos.
    Carlee
    Little Sloth

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  3. I've been thinking about this a lot lately too. Social media is a wonderful tool but it also creates a lot of envy and competition. It is our responsibility to support one another instead of trying to "one up" each other.

    I appreciate you posting this. Glad I'm not the only one who feels this way :-)

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  4. I've been taking a class about this idea of comparing beauty and what that means, and this fights right in. What great words, and they hold so much meaning! I totally agree. Beautiful pictures as always!

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  5. I've been working hard on not comparing myself to others and it's a challenge, but starting to pay off.

    Also, I love your top.

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  6. Beautiful photos and thoughts. I'm definitely with ya. A little less comparison and a little more celebration can go a long way. :)

    Thanks for posting this!

    http://sometimesgracefully.com

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  7. Fantastic post! :)
    I love your top!!! ♥

    http://mademoisellejuliet.blogspot.com/

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  8. great words... totally needed to hear that..

    Valentina
    Valentina Duracinsky Blog

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  9. I love the last sentence, "taking pride in simply being you." Thanks for the reminder to take pride in the unique person God has made me to be, I definitely needed to hear that today!

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  10. First of all, these photos are absolutely beautiful. Like incredible.
    And second of all, perfection has been on my mind a lot as well. I am CONSTANTLY comparing my self to others. Whether it is other bloggers, my friends, class mates, etc. It has gotten pretty heavy and stressful always thinking I never measure up, but honestly reading this I feel like a weight has been lifted, your words really resonated with me, the last sentence "taking pride in simply being you" is beautiful. So thank you. I really needed to read this. Absolutely wonderful!

    xo, Juliette Laura
    http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/InfiniteStyleShop

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  11. What an eloquent reminder for the week. We could all use a few more moments of celebration for the things in our lives that are beautiful. Thanks for being so willing to share your heart!

    Lyric
    lyricalbits.blogspot.com

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  12. this is perfect. <3

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  13. Such a great, honest post. I have this problem. I actually look up to you. I could spend hours gazing at your photographs and think, Dang, I wish I were that good. I wish I had the patience to take more self portraits. I wish I had the body you have so I could wear all those absoLUTEly adorable clothes. And then I read a post like this and thank God I'm not the only one who thinks like this. We all do. And it's so easy to forget that. I think as photographers we deal with this a lot more than other people, too. Sometimes. Maybe. I don't know. Now I'm rambling. Anywho. Thank you for being so lovely and honest and down to earth.

    Sarah
    http://coffeeringsandsouthernthings.com/

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  14. This is an amazing post! :) I can relate because I compare myself to others, I recently realized I´ve been doing just that and it doesn´t make me feel good at all. Nowadays I wish to be able to discover myself and stop trying to be like someone else. Thank you so much for writing this! <3

    Have a nice day!

    Mari
    http://marilovescupcakes.blogspot.com.ar

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  15. Love this so! You're beautiful from the inside out Kinsey! Thanks for the reminder:)

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  16. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. everyone talks about how blogs seem perfect and the blogger's lives seem perfect, when they're only showing the positives and the things that make them happy- do we really expect you to share dirty dishes and laundry to be done? it's time blog readers learn that we all have those dishes and laundry and it's time that we stop comparing our cons to other's pros. thanks again, doll.
    xx

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  17. Indeed. As Theodore Roosevelt once said, "comparison is the thief of joy." So very true.

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  18. so true! people do have to understand that they want to focus on the positive things, not negative. and honestly, sometimes, it's just no one's business. when you compare your life, you have no time to find happiness within yourself. xo

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  19. This is something I struggle with every day. I have so many quotes about comparison and personal success and happiness on my Word to Live By board and yet I have to remind myself of it constantly. I just started a brand new blog which is so intimidating to me and I have to remind myself not to compare my baby blog to other beautiful, "perfect," well-established blogs.

    yourstrulyjen.com

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  20. Wow this post is so inspiring. I have recently been trying to focus on this too. At times it is hard, but it makes life so much happier when we focus the positive things in our life. Thank you for sharing. :)

    Nicole / www.theanchoredsoulblog.com

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  21. This is so perfect. Seriously, all I can say is thank you. :)

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  22. really love your text! thank you for your words - they fit perfect.

    and the photos are so beautiful!

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  23. This is absolutely beautiful!

    http://theneonpapaya.com
    http://theneonpapaya.com

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  24. amen amen amen! Kinsey, this is pure truth! preach it girl:) and thank you for being so vulnerable and true. This resonated so so deeply! love Katie

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  25. This post is so true. I think as girls we definitely try to be inspired by other but end up comparing and falling short (or thinking we've fallen short).
    Love the post :) and great pictures!!

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  26. this is so so good. THANK YOU for sharing this and putting into light what needed to be said. xo

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  27. That is so funny, I wrote a blog post about a subject similar to this one one comparison, and how people spend so much time constructing filtered images of themselves. Thanks for this commentary, it's opened my eyes to see that only showing your best self isn't necessarily a bad thing.

    tropicaldaisy.blogspot.com

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  28. I agree completely, and to say that this is refreshing might be understating it. Comparison truly is a constant battle, one that gets the best of us more times than not. You are such an encourager, and I'm so glad that all of us ladies have the opportunity to read your blog and be encouraged.
    xo Emma

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  29. What an adorable outfit! You look awesome

    -Maddy @ www.BeautyBanterBlog.com

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  30. you are truly such a beautiful soul. xo

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  31. wow, so well written and exactly what I needed today.

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  32. This is exactly what I needed to hear, I think that we all need to hear it every once in awhile. It's a huge wake up call for me and I honestly felt so happy after reading this encouraging post...thank you, Kinsey! You have such a wonderful and uplifting spirit. :)

    Love,
    Kristen

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  33. I am definitely in a constant struggle with trying to be perfect and comparing myself to others; people I know personally and people I see online (i.e. bloggers). It is exhausting honestly. I know that I need to begin to strive to be the "perfect me", not perfect. Maybe you can never reach the perfect you, but at least you are always inspired to be your best.

    xo Jennifer

    http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com

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  34. Such a good post, well said. We all need to listen to those words - but it is so difficult sometimes! It really takes the energy out of you.

    I love your blog, you are so beautiful and seem to be so down to earth - and you always have wise things to say :)

    Love,
    Anna

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  35. That's right.

    Your blog is so amazing!
    I love your photos <3

    monaliza

    http://monalizaphotography.blogspot.com/


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  36. This was awesome. Thank you for saying those words :)

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  37. Your photography is fantastic and super inspiring :) I can't wait to see your upcoming posts and work!


    Lisa
    paintwithstars.com

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  38. Gah. What a beautiful post & an adorable outfit!
    xoxo

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  39. I don't have much to say because you said it all so well, but it's wonderful to hear these kinds of things.

    Christen
    http://christenlouise.blogspot.com

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  40. This outfit is killer, I want it! And what a lovely blog post to go with it. So beautiful!

    Milena xx
    www.tiedyecheetahs.blogspot.com

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  41. this has been on my mind a lot too. and i love you for this. : ) thanks for being you.

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  42. also, ohmygosh the print on that bandeau has my heart. skipping. beats.

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  43. I love this so much. Thank you for your constant inspiration.

    Xo. M.

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  44. Hmm... I always use these "perfect blogger lifes" like inspiration for my own life. I think it is a right way.
    Thanks about post.

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  45. Lovely look, amazing photos, and powerful words dear!
    Stay awesome.

    xo,
    Kiana
    www.finchandfawn.com

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  46. I love this. Thank you for the reminder! And so beautifully written...

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  47. Thank you so much for sharing this and for being willing to be real. (= As someone who is learning to live under a standard of grace, not perfection, I really appreciate this! It's funny how we can find encouragement in the most random ways. I always enjoy your lovely blog.

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